Intanon, the 2013 women's singles world champion and one of Thailand's leading medal hopes in Rio de Janeiro, failed for triamcinolone acetonide in May.

The substance, corticosteroid, is banned during in-competition testing by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) when administered "orally, intravenously, intramuscularly or rectally".

It was ruled, however, that the 21-year-old had injected the substance directly into a muscle for medical reasons, something which is permitted under BWF rules.

A suspension introduced four days ago has therefore been lifted, and she is free to compete at all competitions "with immediate effect".

"During the hearing, conducted by video conference, the athlete’s medical background and records of treatment were submitted to the Panel," a BWF statement today explained. 

"This evidence, together with testimony from an expert witness, established to the satisfaction of the Panel that the substance administered on May 13, 2016, before the competition, was part of ongoing medical treatment of the athlete and that the route of administration of the substance was intra-tendinous.

"The Panel concluded that because the route of administration of the substance in the medical treatment process was intra-tendinous - an authorised administration route - no violation of the regulations was committed."

Intanon, currently ranked fourth in the world but at the top of the rankings earlier this year, cut an emotional and tearful figure when reacting to the news at a press conference in Bangkok.

She claims she had been innocently receiving treatment for pain in her right hand and back.

“I was confident in my innocence and I am glad that I received justice," she said.

"I will practise and hope to bring a medal back for Thais.

“The Olympics is my dream."

The decision is a huge boost to the Asian Kingdom, who are hoping to win their first Olympic gold medal since Beijing 2008 next month.

Intanon is a huge star in Thailand, for her rags to riches background growing up in the poverty-ridden north-east of the country as well as for her sporting rise.

She is also a three-time world junior champion and the current Asian Championships singles gold medal winner.

It is not the first doping case in badminton in recent years, however, with Malaysia's two-time Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei serving a backdated eight-month ban after a failed test for corticosteroid demaxamathasone in 2014.